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I’ve been inspired! Starting today, I will be doing a weekly True or False post! People can send in their questions by visiting the True or False page at the top of the site. Please send in your questions and I will do my best to answer them! They may even be featured on the site, unless you indicate otherwise. Now, let’s get down to business. Our first True or False question!

First, I’d like to clarify some of the language used in this question. When referring to your external anatomy, you are talking about your vulva. Your vulva is composed of the mons veneris, the clitoris, the clitoral hood, the labia minora and the labia majora, and the introitus, or the entrance to your vagina. Your vagina is the internal portion. It’s where a penis goes if you are a person who has heterosexual intercourse.

Now, for the actual question. You most certainly are not deformed! The assertion that some women do not have “inner lips” is false. Every woman technically has labia minora (inner lips), as well as labia majora (outer lips). It comes down to how a person develops in utero. Click the image above to view a really fantastic animation of how baby boys and baby girls typically develop. I found this website recently when I was putting together a presentation on gender selection in intersex children. Love it!

When we start off, we all have indifferent genitalia, meaning that our bits have the potential to develop into either male or female parts. Labia minora are the “grown up” version of the urogenital folds, which develop into the skin of the penis in males. In short…we all have them! They just vary in size and style. If you’ve never seen the work of Betty Dodson, you should plug her into a search engine to see some neat portraits and renditions of various vulvas! In fact…that may be an excellent idea for a future post!

Welcome to the Rainy Day Review!

I’m Mimi! I’m an independent sexuality educator and a graduate school student working towards my master's in human sexuality and in social work. Have a question? Visit the True or False page above and ask away!